Anyone know where to get these type of knifes?

Mikedobee said...

So, isn't that what caused this terrible thing?

Or what actually caused this to happen?

Or nobody knows?

Cheers,
Mike

"i look back and i saw rené's kite looping with a front bridle over the kite and stuck at the end of a strut,"


The symmetrically crossed lines wouldn't have caused the looping, but as Dave explained, they may have contributed to a more severe tangle on the next crash.

Mikdeobee, the easiest way to avoid a wingtip wrapping around a bridle is to Buy a C kite and not, a bridled bow or hybrid kite.

If you have a bridled kite then the key is to avoid the kite lines becoming slack, and causing the kite to hindenburg out of the sky, which allows the kite to roll whilst drifting down. Many possible reasons as below

1. flying the kite to far forward in the kite window, and the kite runs out of kite window, and looses wind
2. Gusty wind
3. Beginners with poor kite control
4. Light wind, and poor handling skills
5. Kite is in the water and whilst trying to relaunch, rolls inside out, and shaking all about ( do the hokeey pokey)
6. Kite not trimmed correctly and when the bar is sheeted all the way out it drops from the sky.


There are probably more reasons, than i can think of. The key is to minimise loss of tension in your kite lines.

KR

I think a divers knife could still come in handy if that one in a million chance of mister shark comes to say hello, if that's all you use it for . Think about it! you have no chance of out swimming a shark and when your swimming for your life the shark just thinks your food trying to get away so really your only hope is to fight ,It would be rather hard to fight a shark off with your hook knife .

^^
Here is some food for thought.

My old divers knife was about 6 inches long, probably longer with the sheath. Could come in handy once in a blue moon. The only problem is it is another thing strapped to you. i prefer to use my line knife which is in a concealed pocket in my harness. Less bulk when kiting certainly is better.
The advantage I see is that if i needed to use a knife in a hurry, the divers knife would probably get used in cutting me loose, as i strap it on each time i kite, and it would be in the front of my mind, as it is highly visible highly accessible, and in my memory bank whilst kiting.

If i was relying on my line knife, i would probaly forget that i had it because it is in the pocket on my harness. I forget that it is there, as i put my harness on dont even think about the knife.

The moral of the story is if you have a line knife. Periodically check it, make sure its there, make sure its not rusted. And go through all your emergency scenarios in your head frequently, so all avenues of safety are included. I.e Quick release, knife, location, water rescue. Etc.

KR

Chris6791 said...

^^^ +1

Every time you launch you should mentally go through some sort of procedure to dump the kite and know where your knife is. Better still build muscle memory and mimick the actions to QR or go for the knife and cut yourself free.

Dumping your kite via both QR or cutting yourself free with a hook knife must get to the point that it is instinctive and not a conscious decision and the only way to do this is via endless repetition.

To put it into perspective, some research has shown that in an aircraft emergency evacutation most passengers first try to undo their seatbelt as if they are in a car...

I remember hearing somewhere, may have been on seabreeze. Each time you finish kiting, disconnect, your quick release, when packing up. this then forces you to go through reconnecting the chickenloop, and visualising your emergency procedures as a ritual prior to each session.
(not that i do this, but the concept is good).

KR